Skoda reveals future Vision

Skoda has denied that its Vision D concept from last week's Geneva motor show is the car that will slot into its range between the Fabia and Octavia.

The concept is a mid-size fastback with crisp lines and a new grille that Skoda’s chief designer, Josef Kaban, described as “proud, confident, but not arrogant”. It’s designed to show Skoda’s future design direction, and several cues, including headlight/foglight locations that resemble a four-leaf clover and rear lights that look like “bohemian crystal”, will make it onto production cars.

However, Skoda’s board member for marketing and sales, Jurgen Stackmann, confirmed to Autocar that the car’s overall proportions are not destined for production. “For us, it is a reference car,” he said. “It’s not a car we’ll make. It’s a sports coupé and we’re not in the business of making sports coupés.”

The first car to receive the new design cues will be “between the Fabia and the Octavia”. Stackmann said: “The design DNA has simple lines, with a clear start and a clear end. It’s important to us to be timeless, not fashionable. A Skoda should look as good after 10 years as when new.”

The new mid-size car, which will surely push the next Octavia further into the Mondeo segment, will be part of a push in which Skoda will release a new model every six months.

Last year Skoda sold a record 762,600 cars, a number it intends to double by 2018. It has made massive inroads in emerging markets, manufacturing and selling 120,000 cars in China. Globally, Skodas have some regional differences, but Stackmann said they have a common DNA of being spacious and uncomplicated.

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“We must not overburden our cars with too much technology. That would be a mistake,” he said. “Take driver assistance systems. You could have 10 in a car, and maybe use only one. Users get scared when things get complex."